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Focal Epilepsy

Topic Overview

Epilepsy that causes partial seizures is sometimes
called focal epilepsy, because the seizures start at a specific focus or
location within the brain. In people with this type of disorder, the electrical
charges that cause seizures begin in a specific area in the brain, although
more of the brain may become affected during the seizure.

Epilepsy that causes partial seizures is the most common type of
epilepsy in adults. The seizures do not always have a known cause. But they
often result from severe head injury, stroke, brain tumor, brain infections,
scar tissue, and other diseases that affect the brain.

These same conditions may also cause partial seizures in
children. But the cause of partial seizures in children is more often
unknown (idiopathic). These seizures are often a form of
benign focal childhood epilepsy, which has no known
cause.

Drug therapy is the usual treatment for partial seizures for both
adults and children. Surgery that removes the affected area of the brain is
also an option for some people who have partial seizures.

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